Castelli, Buchwald campaign methods unfair, committee finds

Sep. 8, 2012

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WHITE PLAINS — Both candidates in the race to represent the 93rd Assembly District have made misleading and false statements, according to a review by the Westchester County Fair Campaign Practices Committee.

Acting on complaints filed by incumbent Robert Castelli, R-Goldens Bridge, and Democratic challenger David Buchwald of White Plains, the committee found that the Buchwald campaign was “overreaching” and “misleading” in claiming that Castelli “voted against common sense gun safety reforms” and “voted to allow someone convicted of domestic violence to buy a gun” in statements to media and posted on its website.

The committee said Castelli was unfair in claiming that violent crime in White Plains increased by 50 percent since Buchwald began serving on the Common Council, saying statistics cited in a news release were false. Castelli also was faulted for a quotation in the same release from a crime “expert,” who turned out to be Castelli and not a neutral party, as was implied.

The committee met Wednesday to review the complaints and made its findings public on Friday. The Fair Campaign Practices Committee does not have enforcement power but aims to promote honest campaigning with its opinions.